Dem Gov John Bel Edwards Raised Taxes On Louisiana Families After He Pledged Not To

Once he was governor, Edwards did not stand by his word.

Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards’ record of imposing tax hikes on Louisiana families, after he said he wouldn’t, has quickly become a major problem for his re-election effort.

The Associated Press reports today that Edwards claimed he “wouldn’t raise tax rates on businesses or individuals” during a 2015 gubernatorial debate. But once he was governor, Edwards did not stand by his word. The AP writes “tax rates under Edwards, however, were raised” by over $1.1 billion, including a massive sales tax hike that hurt poorer Louisiana families the most.

John Bel Edwards not only failed to follow through on his promise not to raise taxes, but he made it his mission to impose historically large tax hikes that burdened Louisiana families. Edwards has proven that he can’t be trusted to keep his word.

In a November 2015 debate, both Edwards and his Republican runoff challenger, then-U.S. Sen. David Vitter, said they wouldn’t raise tax rates on businesses or individuals. They talked of very similar plans to make government more efficient, remove protections that keep some areas of the budget off-limits to cuts and scale back tax break programs.

Tax rates under Edwards, however, were raised.

When Edwards took office in 2016, the approach he and lawmakers negotiated involved more than $1.1 billion in temporary tax changes – mainly a 1 percent state sales tax hike – and plans to study a longer-term tax overhaul.